Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Zhubei City Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeju and Zhubei City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,335 per month in Jeju vs $1,140 in Zhubei City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,303 per month in Jeju vs $2,070 in Zhubei City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,270 per month in Jeju vs $3,001 in Zhubei City, rent included.

Jeju costs about 17% more than Zhubei City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Jeju sits 0% above the global median, while Zhubei City is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.57 ₩9,780
$5.19 NT$168
26.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.8 ₩77.1K
$34.12 NT$1,103
51.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.08 ₩6,078
$5.68 NT$184
-28.17%
Cappuccino
$5.34 ₩7,946
$3.56 NT$115
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 ₩3,467
$0.91 NT$29.25
156.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₩1,055
$0.62 NT$20.04
14.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.99 ₩5,942
$2.24 NT$72.2
78.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93 ₩8,823
$2.76 NT$89.0
114.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.12 ₩3,147
$3.11 NT$101
-31.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 ₩3,254
$2.06 NT$66.5
6.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ₩3,350
$4.34 NT$140
-48.16%
Eggs
$2.56 ₩3,813
$2.91 NT$94.0
-12.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.31 ₩15.3K
$13.84 NT$447
-25.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.41 ₩12.5K
$8.46 NT$273
-0.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.81 ₩41.4K
$28.32 NT$915
-1.80%
Apples (1kg)
$8.00 ₩11.9K
$4.34 NT$140
84.33%
Banana (1kg)
$3.25 ₩4,832
$2.63 NT$85.1
23.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.60 ₩8,338
$2.73 NT$88.1
105.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.39 ₩8,015
$3.91 NT$126
37.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.88 ₩4,289
$4.04 NT$131
-28.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 ₩2,766
$2.53 NT$81.7
-26.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 ₩3,222
$2.64 NT$85.4
-17.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₩626
$1.33 NT$42.84
-68.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₩5,029
$3.97 NT$128
-14.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.52 ₩24.6K
$8.74 NT$282
89.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ₩2,677
$1.57 NT$50.7
14.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ₩2,382
$2.83 NT$91.5
-43.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 ₩1,352
$0.65 NT$21.03
40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$39.36 NT$1,272
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.50 ₩3,722
$3.35 NT$108
-25.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ₩782
$0.58 NT$18.90
-8.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.01 ₩13.4K
$10.04 NT$324
-10.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ₩1,818
$1.07 NT$34.55
14.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K ₩40.7M
$40.9K NT$1.3M
-33.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K ₩36.9M
$27.3K NT$880.5K
-9.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 ₩235.0K
$91.7 NT$2,963
72.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.45 ₩52.8K
$33.73 NT$1,090
5.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.12 ₩28.5K
$24.46 NT$790
-21.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.71 ₩54.6K
$33.75 NT$1,091
8.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.19 NT$491
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.93 ₩16.3K
$11.68 NT$377
-6.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$367 ₩545.5K
$703 NT$22.7K
-47.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.9K ₩37.0M
$15.5K NT$501.2K
60.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5 ₩75.1K
$84.4 NT$2,727
-40.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.60 ₩44.0K
$47.17 NT$1,524
-37.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.6 ₩96.1K
$101 NT$3,255
-35.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ₩129.1K
$114 NT$3,670
-23.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ₩717.0K
$438 NT$14.1K
10.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$400 ₩595.0K
$212 NT$6,842
88.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,009 ₩1.5M
$1,202 NT$38.8K
-16.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,130 ₩1.7M
$857 NT$27.7K
31.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,269 ₩12.3M
$16.4K NT$528.3K
-49.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,103 ₩7.6M
$9,443 NT$305.1K
-45.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeju
Zhubei City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,678 ₩2.5M
$2,391 NT$77.2K
-29.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.14
2.4
72.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jeju: July 12, 2026

Last update for Zhubei City: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Jeju versus $438 in Zhubei City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 42% higher in Zhubei City, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Jeju versus $34.00 in Zhubei City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $392 – making Zhubei City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Jeju vs Zhubei City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zhubei City cheaper than Jeju?
Yes – Jeju is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,003 per month in Jeju and $1,710 in Zhubei City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zhubei City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Jeju or in Zhubei City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Jeju and $34.00 in Zhubei City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Jeju and in Zhubei City?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Jeju, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Jeju or in Zhubei City?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zhubei City, where all-in costs run around $1,140, than in Jeju at $1,335. In Zhubei City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Jeju or Zhubei City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zhubei City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Jeju or Zhubei City?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Zhubei City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jeju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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